Island



LNo Model.) I Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. A. s. P.- A. PBGK.

CHAIN MAGHINE.

y No. 543,944. Patented Aug. 6, 1895.

{No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. A. & P. A. PECK. CHAIN MACHINE.

No. 543,944 Patented Aug. 6, 1895. l I' @Wma-fr, 5

No Model.) 1 sheetssheet 3.

W. A. 8u F. A. PEGK.

CHAIN MACHINE.

' .NO. 543,944. 4PaL1'.'el11;ed Aug. 6,1895.

Wfz davo.

QNo Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 4. W. A. & P. A PECK. CHAIN MACHINE.

Patented Aug. 6, 1895.

(No Model.) i l 7 Sheets-Sheet; 6. W. A. an P. A. PEYGK.

' CHAINL MACHINE. No. 543,944. Patented Aug.6. 1895.

(No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 7.

III. A. su I". A. PEGI@ CHAIN MACHINE.

. No. 543,944 Patented Aug. 6, 1895.

UNrrnD STATES PATENT Ormes.

WILLIAM A. PECK AND FREDERICK A. PECK, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND; SAID FREDERICK A. PECK ASSIGNOR TO SAID VILLIAM A.

PECK.

CHAIN-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION vforming part of Letters Patent No. 543,944, dated August 6, 1895. Application iiled October 27, 1892I Renewed December 31, 1894. Serial No. 533.452. (No model.)

To all whom. t may concern.-

Be it known that we, WILLIAM A. PECK and FREDERICK A. PECK, citizens of the United States, residing at Providence, in the State of Rhode Island, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Chain-Machines, o't which the following is a specilication.

Our inventionrelates to an improved machine for making curb and other ornamental chain automatically from a coil ot' wire, and also for welding and soldering the ends of the connected links; and it consists in the improved construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully set forth.

Figure l represents a side elevation of the machine. Fig. 2 represents an enlarged horizontal section of the winding-head- Fig. 3 represents an enlarged detail section taken in the plane of the axis of the driving-shaft, showing the swaging and chain-linking mechanism with the linking-jaws in their upper position. Fig. 4 represents a similar section of the linking mechanism with the linkingjaws in their lower position. Fig. 5 represents an enlarged detail section taken in the line 5 5 ot Fig. 3, showing an end view ofthe setting-plunger. Fig. 6 represents an enlarged detail section taken in the line 6 6 of Fig. 3, showing the mechanism for conveying the link from the winding-mandrel to the swaging-dies. tion taken in the line 7 7 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 represents a detail section taken in the line 8 8 of Fig. 5. Fig. 9 represents an enlarged detail section taken in the line 9 9 of Fig. 8. Fig. l0 represents an enlarged detail section taken in the line l0 lO of Fig. 2, showing the winding-mandrel, the swaging-die, and the carrier for conveying the link from the end of the mandrel tothe swaging-die. Fig. l1 represents a front view of the face-plate and the spring-actuated levers for guiding the wire upon the mandrel. Fig. l2 represents an enlarged detail front View of one of the springactuated levers adapted to operate upon the initial coil of the wire and a transverse section of the mandrel. Fig. 13 represents a detail View showinga wire link upon the end ofthe mandrel and a horizontal section of the lower end of the link-carrier which serves to remove the link from the mandrel. Fig. 14 repre,-l

Fig. 7 represents a detail sec' sente an enlarged Vertical section showing the mandrel, the swaging-die, the link-carrier, and one of the spring-actuated guide-bars for hold .ing the link. Fig. l5 represents a front view of the springactuated pivoted guide-bars for holding the link. Fig. 16 represents an inner edge View of one of the said bars. Fig. 17 represents an end view ot' the mandrel and its surrounding bushing, also showing the severed links upon the mandrel. Fig. 18 represents a face View ot' the swaging-die. Fig. 19 represents a detail View showing the top of the longitudinally-divided guide-tube for the chain. Fig. 2O represents a detail elevation showing one of the longitudinally-grooved parts of the guide-tube and the sliding bolt for automatically locking the chain in the guide-tube, the other part of the guide-tube being removed. Fig. 2l represents an eularged side elevation of the linking-jaws and their operating mechanism. Fig. 22 represents an edge View of the same. Fig. 23 represents a rear View of the sliding bar to which the linking-jaws are pivoted, showing also a rear View of the actuating mechanism. Fig.

24 represents a detail section of one of the jaws, showing the adjustable shoe for engagement with the sliding wedge-cam. Fig. 25 represents. a transverse section taken in the line 25 25 of Fig. 21. Fig. 26 represents a lface view of the sliding wedge for operating the linking-jaws. Fig. 27 represents an edge View of the same. Fig. 28 represents an enlarged sectional view taken in the line 28 28 of Figs. l and 2, showing the cutter for severing the coil to forni the links. Fig. 29 represents a detail section 'taken in the line 29 of Fig. 3l, showing the feed-pin. Fig. 30 represents a perspective view of the feed-pin and its holder detached from the machine. Fig. 3l represents an enlarged elevation ot the linking-jaws and the guide-tube for the chain. Fig. 32 represents a sectional view taken in the line 32 32 of Fig. 3l. Fig. 33 represents a side View of the opposite dies for the linking-jaws, and Fig. 34 an end View ot one of the dies. Fig. 35 represents a side view, and Fig. 36 an edge view of a doublecurbed chain made by the machine. Fig. 37

` represents a perspective View of the link when first severed from the coil. Fig. 38 represents IOC a face View', and Fig. 39 an edge view of the same when swaged to form the curb-link. Fig. 40 represents a perspective view ot' the electric welding or soldering mechanism upon the same scale as in Fig. 1` and detail side elevation of the machine. Fig. 41 represents an enlarged perspective elevation of the said mechanism and transverse section of the bedframe of the machine. Fig. 42 represents a detail top view et' the said mechanism Fig. L3 represents a side elevation of the electric welding or soldering apparatus. Fig. at represents an edge elevation ot' the same, Fig. 45 represents an enlarged section taken in the line 45 45 of Fig. 113.

In the accompanying drawings, Figs. 1 and 2, A represents the bed-frameot the machine, at one end of which is placed the revolving hollow spindle B, provided at its forward end with the face-plate C and at its middle portion with the cone-pulleys D. Upon the forward portion of the spindle B and back of the face-plate C is placed the frictionally-held reel E, from which the wire, after passing through the curved guide c', attached to the edge of the face-plate C, is wound onto the stationary mandrel F and forced along 'the same under the revolving cutter G,by means of which the coiled wire is divided into separately-formed links, which at the end of the mandrel F are carried downward, by means of the carrier II, to the swaging-die I, where the links are opened out and broughtinto the desired form by means et the swaging-plunger J, the face dof the said plunger and the corresponding face of the die being made to impartthe desired form to the link, and the projecting stem b being employed to open out the link to the proper degree to pass over the wire of the previouslyprepared link or links of the chain, the above-described mechanism having been claimed in Letters Patent No. 367,923, dated August 9, 1887, to which reference is made for a more complete description.

In order to wind the wire from the reel E tightly upon a mandrel F, of elongated crosssection, and to force the same from the mandrel, we employ the spring-actuated levers K K' K2, which are pivoted at the points c to the plate L, which is secured by its opposite ends d d to the face-plate C, the actuatingsprings e e c being attached to the outer ends of the said levers and to the pins fff in the face-plate; and the bearing-edge g of the levers K K2 is beveled to press behind the initialcoil of wire upon themandrel, as shown in Figs. l0 and 11, a slot t' being made through the thinnest lever K for the passage of the wire m, and the levers K and K2 being made ol gradually-increasing thickness.

The carrier Il, which serves to carry the end link from the mandrel F to the swaging-die I, is provided with a projecting lip h, which engages with the lower end or portion of the link, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14. To the bushing M, which surrounds the mandrel, are pivoted the guide-bars N N, provided with the longitudinal grooves jj and the notehesyfy, which are adapted to clasp the edge ol the link and hold the same in front of the swaging-die I, the said guide-bars being pressed toward each other to firmly hold the link, by means ofthe side springs 7c k, as shown in Fig. 15. The carrier H is attached to the bridge O, which connects the upper ends ot' the rods P P, the said rods being made to slide loosely through openings Z Z made in the `flange et the bed-frame A, as shown in Figs. ti and 7, and the lower ends of the rods P I) are joined by means of the cross-head Q, provided with the stud m, which enters the groove n ot' the cam R, secured to the shaft S, the said shaft being driven from the cone pulley I) by means of the gear o upon the cone-pulley, the gear p upon the shaft S, and the intermediate gear q. To the reciprocating head T is secured the tool-holder U, which is adapted to receive and hold the shank of the swagingplunger J, the said shank being provided with a screw-thread 7' and with a groove s, adapted to receive the point of the screw t, to prevent the turning of the swaging-plunger, and within the chamber a, formed between the tool-holder U and the head T, is placed the nut o, which serves to adjust the position of the forward end ot' the swaging-plunger with reference to the face of the swagingdie I. The head T is operated from the shaft S by means of the cam W', the slotted bar X, which is provided with a stud A1U, having a friction-roller y, adapted to enter the groove of the cam, the link a', and the toggle levers h b', the one jointed to the `frame A and the other to the reciprocating head T. When the link has been brought from the end et the mandrel F down to the holding-notches j j' of the pivoted guide-bars N N, and the reciprocating head T advances toward the swaging-die, the stem b ot' the swagingplunger engages the opening of the link before the opening finger Y engages with the guidebars N N to release the link from the said bars. The opener Y is attached to the tool-holder U by means of the screw d, which passes through a slot c in the shank of the opener Y, so that the slack movement thus provided t'or the opener Y will serve to keep the guides open while the swzztgingplunger recedes `from the die and brings the swaged link with it to a position between the linking-dies ff', which are adj nstably attached to the upper end of the linking-jaws A A', the said dies being provided with the curved and hollowed bearing-faces g g', adapted to tit the edges of the swaged link, and the said jaws A A' are jointed to each other by means of the pivot-bolt 7L', and attached by means of the said pivot-bolt to the sliding bar B', the said sliding bar being operated in its up and down movement by means of the stud fi" and the rollerj2, which enters the groove 7n of the cam C upon the shaft S, and upon the side of the sliding bar B are placed the guide-pieces Z Z', which serve to guide the movement of the sliding wedge-shaped cam D for operating the jaws A' A', the said wedge-cam being provided with two operating portions m' and n', the first of which, by operating upon the inwardlyproj ecting shoes o' o', serves to close the jaws upon the link when held upon the stern b of the swaging-plunger and the other to close Jthe jaws to bring the ends of the link together in the nished chain by operating upon the shoes o2 o2, and the wedge-shaped cam D' is attached to the angular arm p', which passes through a slot q' in the sliding bar B', and is -provided with a friction-roller r', which engages with the cam E', secured to the back of the cam C', and the wedge-shaped cam D is forced backward by means of the spring s', which enters the slot q of the sliding bar and engages with the end a4 of the said slot.l To the top of the sliding bar B is attached the inclined holder F', in which is placed the sliding feed-pin u', provided with the pointed end o', which is adapted to enter the space within the link, and with the head w' pivoted to the feed-pin u' by means of the screw or', and adapted for engagement with the fixed inclined cam G' attached to the upright standard H', and the said feed-pin is carried backward from its engagement with the link by means of the spiral spring y'.

The completed chain is held Yin the guidetube l', which is made of two grooved pieces a2 d2, secured together and adapted to slide in a holding bracket J', which is attached to the standard H', the spring b4 serving tov hold the guide-tube l' at its lower position against a suitable stop-shoulder.

The two grooved bars c2 a2 which form the guide-'tube are cut away at b2 b2 in order to form a slot adapted to receive the opposite holding-jaws c2 c3, which are held in a fixed position relatively to theup and down movement of the guide-tube I'. The jaw c2 is provided with an inclined rear end d2 and an inclined slot e2, and is adjustably secured to the sliding bar f2, provided with a pin g2, which enters the cam-slot h2 in the cam-lever K3, pivoted to the bracket J' by means of the screw-stud 2, the said lever K3 having an upwardly-extending arm js, provided with a lip 7a2, projecting over the bridge O, so that at the extreme upward movement of the said bridge its engagement with the lip k2 will cause the upward movement of the lever K3, against the downward action of the spring Z2 and the withdrawal of the jaw c2, to release the chain for feeding upward through the guide-tube, and upon the initial downward movement of the bridge O the chain will be again clasped between the jaws o2 c3 and held stationary, as before.

One of the parts of the guide-tube l' is provided with a projecting arm m2, in which is placed an adjusting-screw n2, and upon the upward movement of the closing-jaws A' A' one of the said jaws will strike the screw n2 and thus cause the upward movement of the guide-tube, the chain being elevated with the tube by its friction with the sides of the tube and the engagement ot' the feed-pin with the lower link of the chain. The sliding guide I' is held in its downward position by means of the spring p2, attached to the bracket J', and is provided with the opposite spring-lingers q2 g3, which serve to hold the lower link of the chain in position for the proper insertion of the same into the opening of the link, which is held in the closing dies f'f' of the jaws A' A', and as the jaws continue to ascend the spring-lingers will be carried upward out of the way of the subsequent closing action of the jaws-by 1means ot' the engagement of one of the jaws with the bar r2 of the sliding guide I'.

When the chain is to be made with soldered links, we attach an electric welding or soldering apparatus M' to the inclined bracket N', attached to the standard H', and to the upper end of the standard H' is attached the grooved sheave s2, over which the finished chain t2 will pass to a place of deposit.

The electric welding or soldering apparatus M' is constructed and operated as follows: Upon the shaft S is placed the cam O', arranged to act upon a roller u2 at the lower end of the sliding rod P',which is held-in its elevated position against the downward action of the cam by means of the spiral spring v2 and the adjustable collar to2. The upper end of the rod P' is jointed to the lever Q', which is pivoted to the arm m2 of the standard H', and to the opposite end of the lever Q is jointed the sliding cam U', serving to actuate the opposite levers R' R', which are pivoted to the holding-frame S' at the point y2, the said levers being also jointed at their upper ends to the sliding contact-pins T' T', which are held to slide in the insulating bushings ag a3, being also insulated from the levers R' R' by means of the insulating bushings Zr b3 and theside washers c4 c4. Electriccircuitiwires d3 cl3 are attached to the insulated contact-pins T' T', so that upon closing the ends of the same upon a link z' of the chain., the heat developed by the current at the closed end of the link will serve to weld the same, and as the chain passes upward from the guide-tube l' the links will be successively subjected to the action of the electric circuit through the closing action ot the contact-rods at each rotation of the cam O'. The levers R' R' are provided at their lower ends with the friction-rollers e3 e3, which are held in contact with thewedgeformed sliding cam U by means ot' the spiral springs f3 f3. The movement of the contact-pins T T' may be varied to provide for welding links of different sizes by means of the adjustingscrew g3, which provides more or less play at the joint h3 between the lever Qand thesliding cam U'.

The operation of the machine will be as follows: Upon starting the machinethe wire will be wound from the reel E onto the mandrel F, and will be pressed against the said mandrel IIO and forced along on the same to the cutter G by means of the levers K K K2, and the sep.

arated spiral links so formed will be conveyed by the downward movement of the carrier Il along the grooves j of the guide-bars N N to the holding-notches j'j in front of the swaging-die I. The reciprocating head T, which carries the swaging-plunger J, will then come forward and the stem Z) of the swaging-plunger will first enter the opening of the link, and then the tapering finger Y will enter the opening between the guide-bars N N to open the same, so as to free the link from the notches j l7",'and allow the swagingplunger J to pass forward to swage the link to proper form against the swaging-die, after which the swaging-plunger will be retracted from the swaging-die, with the swaged link held upon the stem b of the plunger, and upon the arrival of the said plunger to the position shown in Fig. Il the plunger will come to a rest and the linking-jaws A A will seize the link upon the stem b, and upon the seizure of the link the swagng-plunger J resumes its backward movement, the guide-bars N N beingrretained in their opened position by reason ofthe backlash caused by the slot c', until after the link has passed beyond their range of movement, and upon the subsequent upward movement of the jaws A A' the link will be carried to the attaching end of the chain t2, and at the same time the feed-pin a will be pressed forward into the opening of the link held in the ascending jaws and will engage with the edge ofthe lower link of the chain 2, which is being held in proper line by means of the spring-lingers q2 qs. The linking-jaws A A are then closed to bring the ends of the open link together to link the same with the chain, and the continued upward movement of the jaws will serve to cause the proper upward feeding of the chain, which will be seized at its upwardlyled position by means of the jaws c2 e3 and held until the like attachment thereto of the succeeding link of the chain, and as the chain is being fed upward, link by link, the electric-contact pins t t will be brought against the sides of a link to produce the required weldingor attachment of the abutting ends of the link to eachother.

IVe claim as our invention-- l. In amachine for makingchainlinks, the combination with the cutter, and the stationary mandrel, the revolving spindle, the reel held upon the spindle, and the face-plate, of the spring-actuated levers attached to the face plate, and adapted to hold the wire against the mandrel, and to force the coils forward to the cutter, substantially as described.

2. In a machine for making chain-links, the combination with the cutter, the stationary mandrel, the swaging-die and plunger, of the grooved and notched guide-bars, and the carrier, for conveying the severed link from the end of the mandrel, to the holding notch of the guide-bars, in front of the s'vaging-die, substantially as described.

In a machine for making chain-links, the combination with the cutter, the stationary mandrel, the swaging-die and plunger, of the grooved and notched guidebars, the carrier for conveying the severed link from the end ofthe mandrel, to the holding notch of the guidefbars in front of the swaging-dies, and the linger for opening the guide-bars t0 release the link, substantially as described.

el. In a machine for making chain, the combination with the swaging-die and plunger, of the linking-jaws, adapted to seize the link upon the stem of the swaging-plunger, and means for withdrawing the said stem from the seized link, substantially as described.

5. In a machine for making chain, the combination with the swagingdie and plunger, and a suitable guide for the chain, of the linking-jaws adapted to seize the link upon the stem of the swaging-plunger, means for withdrawing the said stem from the seized link, and means .for conveying the link to the end of the chain held in the guide and for bringing the jaws together, substantially as described.

6. In a machine for making chain, the combination with the swaging-die and plunger, and a suitable guide for the chain, of the linking-jaws, pivotally held upon a sliding bar, the cam for operating the sliding bar, a sliding wedge shaped cam, 'for operating the jaws, t0 seize the link upon the stern of the swaging-plunger, and to close the link in the chain, means for moving the said stem from the seized link, and the rotary cam for operating the wedge shapedcam to open and close the jaws, substantially as described.

7. In a machine for making chain,the coinbination with the swaging-die and plunger', and a suitable guide for the chain, of the linking-jaws, pvotally held upon a slidinghar, the cam for operating the slidingbar, the sliding wedge-shaped cam provided with the two operating portions, the adjustable shoes for engaging the said 'cam portions, and the rotary cani for operating the wedge-shaped cam, substantially as described.

8. In a machine for making chain, the combnation with the chain guide, and the linking jaws adapted to close the link to the chain,ot the feed pin adapted to enter the space within the link to be closed, and carry the end links of the chain upward with the guide, substantially as described.

9. In a machine for making chain, the combination with the chain guide, and the linking jaws adapted to close the link to the chain, of the feed pin provided with the pivoted head, and the actuating spring, and the inclined cam for imparting forward and backward movement to the lfeed pin, substantially as described.

10. In a machine for making chain, the cour bination with the linking jaws, and the feed ICO IIO

pin, of the chain guide adapted for a slight.

in proper position for engagement, substantially as described.

l2. In amachine for making chain, the combination with the automatic chain linking mechanism, of the insulated electric contact pins, and means for operating the same automatically, substantially as described.

WILLIAM A. PECII. Y FREDERICK A. PEcII. I Witnesses:

SOCRATES SCHOLFIELI),

JAMES W. BEAMAN. 

